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Hi,

I have been lurking on this site a day or two, and figured out what (I think) some of hypermiling (or is it hypermilling, I have seen both) is. I have tried some of the milder techniques (don't plan on drafting semis, for instance). YIKES.

Anyway, I am interested in learning more. Also I am thinking of buying a Prius or other hybrid.

--des

Welcome, fellow Corolla driver. Feel free to ask questions. We'll try to help out.

Welcome to the site and happy driving to you!

Just remember if you aren't comfortable doing it, then don't do it.

Yes, of course. I don't think that drafting should be recommended at all in anyway.
It is very dangerous. To get any benefit from it, you end up exceeding your stop
distance. It's sort of anti-defensive driving.

OTOH, many of the techniques are quite friendly to good driving, requiring you
to watch where you are in relation to the road and other cars.

BTW, The Mythbusters (my heroes) did a segment on drafting. They definitely proved it will
increase gas mileage, but also said it was crazy and dangerous. They had a very
controlled situation that they tested it. The best gains were 10 feet from the semi!!


--des

Welcome to the site and happy driving to you!

Just remember if you aren't comfortable doing it, then don't do it.

Yes, of course. I don't think that drafting should be recommended at all in anyway.
It is very dangerous. To get any benefit from it, you end up exceeding your stop
distance. It's sort of anti-defensive driving.

OTOH, many of the techniques are quite friendly to good driving, requiring you
to watch where you are in relation to the road and other cars.

BTW, The Mythbusters (my heroes) did a segment on drafting. They definitely proved it will
increase gas mileage, but also said it was crazy and dangerous. They had a very
controlled situation that they tested it. The best gains were 10 feet from the semi!!


--des
Unfortunately the drafting issue tends to fixate people. Yes, close-in straight-behind drafting increases FE, more the closer you are. But most people here don't do it at all. I certainly don't, partly because ALL the trucks are going faster than me and partly because I don't want to stare at the back of a semi. So don't do it, it isn't the only way to improve your FE, and focus instead on the other things you can do.
The point excel is trying to make in the drafting section is that even if you aren't aware of it, you ARE benefitting from the draft from traffic around you, especially from the larger vehicles. Being aware of this can help you to take advantage of this in small and safe ways.
Have you ever looked at the leaves on the trees along the highway (assuming you have trees since I don't know where you are!)? Especially after a gaggle of semis have passed? They will be blowing all over the place, even if it isn't a windy day. Or have you stood by the side of a highway while traffic rolled by? Constant blasts of air, and neither you nor the leaves is directly behind the semis.
So if a semi comes up alongside you, the air coming off the front of it will pull you along a bit without you doing anything. Sometimes I ease slightly towards the semi (watching carefully) to get a bit more draft. Even if you are a safe distance directly behind a semi you will still be in air which is partly moving at the semi's speed. If a semi is a safe distance ahead of you in your lane and pulling away and another comes up on your left, you might speed up slightly to stay with the one in front of you and enjoy the nice air pocket formed by the two of them for a while.
Also, in traffic we all know that people tailgate from impatience, so in effect they are close-in drafting. People seem to think it's OK to close-in draft from impatience but are horrified at the thought of doing it for FE? Lately I've noticed semis tailgating cars closer than one CAR length.

Hope this helps, and good luck!!

Hello desdemona,

Good to have you here.
I'm sure you can pick up some good techniques here that will increase your FE. Do what works for you - every bit of gas you save is money in your pocket and fuel not burned.

'96 and later cars can use a Scangauge. It gives a continuous, real time mpg readout. Those who have one swear by it, and I wish that my car could use one but it's an '89. If you're considering spending any money towards better fuel economy (like getting a different car!) then a Scangauge is an excellent choice. If you change cars you can take it with you so you don't lose your investment.

Ask questions when you need.
Good luck!

Thanks for clarification re: drafting. Yes, I see that being aware is good and makes you a better driver anyway.

That brings up a point of drivign in wind. No we dont' have lots of trees, but we sure have lots of WIND. Maybe I should introduce this as new post!

Anyway, doesn't a car like a Prius have lots of built in gauges and so on that tell you what the car is doing? Of course, I don't expect I will be getting one in awhile, if ever (well ever is a long time!).

Yes, I hate all tailgaters and particularly semis. I have lots of them as I am a slower driver anyway. IF I have room, I'll pull over, even feign engine trouble--put on flashers and all, to let someone go by. They are usually only too happy. On a smaller road, I'll just pull over to let the eager beavers go by. Funny how I sometimes see them up at the very same stoplight, that they have had to stop at and I don't because I do know something about timing of lights.
:-)

--des

I agree that it's much better to have the speeders way out in front rather than right behind. Letting them go is a great tactic.

As for the Prius, its Multi Function Display (MFD - the central touch screen thing) has one screen that tells you roughly where the power is going (e.g. battery to wheels, engine to wheels, wheels to battery, etc.) and another screen that tells you how much gas you are burning at any particular moment and for the last half hour. Having this feedback can do almost as much for your mileage as having the fancy hybrid drive, even if you already have a good handle on fuel economy techniques.

That said, the Prius does lack a few basic instruments: water temp, engine RPM, etc. Strictly speaking you don't need that information because the car takes care of itself. But many of us have found that these numbers are useful, which is why so many Prius drivers still use a ScanGauge.